FAQ Results

Only pool filtration and associated sanitation equipment is allowed to be connected to the designated Volume Controlled Tariff outlet (also known as Economy, Tariff 33 or Control Load 2 (CL2), depending on your electricity retailer). Remember that supply is generally available for 16+ hours per day and is usually interrupted during peak demand periods, typically between 4pm and 9pm.

When your air-conditioner unit goes into a Demand Response Mode you're unable to reverse the function by changing temperature settings or other actions.

Yes. You can connect your pool equipment to Volume Controlled Tariff Night (also known as Super Economy, Tariff 31 or Control Load 1 (CL1), depending on your electricity retailer) via a power point instead of being hardwired.

You need to be aware that Volume Controlled Tariff Night only provides electricity supply for a minimum of 8 hours a day, generally between 10pm and 7am (subject to regional and seasonal variations). This may not provide sufficient operating time for pool filtration requirements.

Additionally, the times when supply is available may not be convenient for pool maintenance to be carried out.

Our network is designed to cope with these peaks and has extra capacity to cater for extreme weather days. Read more information on our Peak demand web page.

We regularly survey PeakSmart customers to determine whether they’ve noticed any difference during a PeakSmart event. At the last survey, over 70,000 Queensland PeakSmart customers didn’t notice any difference to their comfort levels when their air-conditioners were in Demand Response Mode.

No. Pool filtration and sanitation systems no longer need to be permanently wired to be supplied on a Volume Controlled Tariff.

An electrician can install a dedicated power point connected to the Volume Controlled Tariff for pool filtration and sanitation equipment. This makes maintenance and equipment replacement easier while still allowing the pool system to access a lower-cost tariff option and helping reduce peak demand on the network.

Power supplied under a Volume Controlled Tariff is not continuously available and is switched in accordance with network requirements. Supply is generally available for more than 16 hours per day.

No. The signal receiver can be activated on any setting and temperature.

PeakSmart is an innovative technology that helps moderate power usage at times of peak demand. It's aimed at reducing growth in electricity prices by reducing future network costs.

A PeakSmart event is a situation where the network calls on connected PeakSmart appliances, like air-conditioners, via a signal receiver. When called upon, these appliances drop into Demand Response Mode, which is like economy mode, reducing the amount of power they draw from the grid.

Over time, PeakSmart events help lessen the need to build more network infrastructure, and help with localised issues during times of peak demand.

As we increasingly rely on electricity as part of our everyday lives, energy use during peak times continues to rise. Millions of dollars are spent on extra electricity infrastructure to cater for these peak times. PeakSmart helps us use our network more efficiently, and is one of our solutions for managing peak demand.

It works via a signal receiver – a small device installed in the PeakSmart air-conditioner(s). A signal is sent remotely from us via your power supply that tells the air-conditioner to cap its energy consumption on occasions when the network reaches peak demand. This is only likely to happen a few times a year. We call this a PeakSmart event.

Once your PeakSmart air conditioner has been made PeakSmart Active by your installer, we can send a signal to it through the electricity network to temporarily reduce its consumption. This is similar to putting your air conditioner into economy mode and is only ever done when the electricity network reaches peak demand.